The Greatest BMW M Ever

[LeinsCSL]

Little bit of light CSL reading for Sunday afternoon now that the Moto GP is over (what was Nicky Hayden doing?)

As Shimmy said, the CSL got some bad press in the early days, but I always blamed the likes of Andrew Frankel at Autocar for this, trotting out the old line of "it's too extreme for the road, get a std M3 instead". Auto Express were at it too: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-reviews/15583/bmw-m3-csl

Even Munich Legends: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/de...start-slipping


Here's an early EVO review, and John Barker has always been a bit of a fan of the CSL, Dickie Meaden less so: http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/carg...ti_spec_c.html

Then we get to more recent times where journos have started raving about it, like Car's Ben Barry here asking a question he never answers:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/...t-ever-BMW-M3/

But for me it's always been Chris Harris who's been the biggest fan of the car, right from his initial prototype drive for Autocar. As far as I remember, he was also the first one to say that the GTS might be put in the shade by the CSL

[Straightsix]

Originally Posted by LeinsCSL

Little bit of light CSL reading for Sunday afternoon now that the Moto GP is over (what was Nicky Hayden doing?)

As Shimmy said, the CSL got some bad press in the early days, but I always blamed the likes of Andrew Frankel at Autocar for this, trotting out the old line of "it's too extreme for the road, get a std M3 instead". Auto Express were at it too: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-reviews/15583/bmw-m3-csl

Even Munich Legends: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/de...start-slipping


Here's an early EVO review, and John Barker has always been a bit of a fan of the CSL, Dickie Meaden less so: http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/carg...ti_spec_c.html

Then we get to more recent times where journos have started raving about it, like Car's Ben Barry here asking a question he never answers:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/...t-ever-BMW-M3/

But for me it's always been Chris Harris who's been the biggest fan of the car, right from his initial prototype drive for Autocar. As far as I remember, he was also the first one to say that the GTS might be put in the shade by the CSL

Thanks for those links will have a read of them later :-)

When u look at the M3 CSL there are so much engineering details to improve over the already impressive E46 M3 Coupe

I think some people baulked at the £60k price .... Well CFRP ain't cheap .... If I could have afforded one then I would have chosen a new M3 CSL over a 996 Carrera 2 with Porsche Manual Gearbox

In a straight line there is not too much in it between M3 CSL and M3. But from what I understand the CSL really shines in the corners and over a long track like Nurburgring all the little improvements in acceleration, braking, cornering accumulate to make big time improvement.

Funny at the time BMW had lots of takers when they unveiled the prototype but then struggled to sell them all. Therefore, you see some 04, 54 and even maybe 05 Plate M3 CSLs.

I am sure someone must have an 05 Plate M3 CSL :-) ?

[NZ_M3]

Not sure how you guys can even read that first link ... Here's a better version:

[shimmy]

Thanks Tom, my eyes are not as good as they used to be before I retired


So if Soper did a 1m20.9 for a lap of the TG track how does that make the 1m 29 look that th Stig put in whilst wet.,

[NZ_M3]

Originally Posted by shimmy

So if Soper did a 1m20.9 for a lap of the TG track how does that make the 1m 29 look that th Stig put in whilst wet.,

You are welcome Andy

I didn't realise that the times were for the Top Gear track ... that's interesting, and would make the CSL equally as fast as the Mercedes McLaren SLR - also at 1:20.9 - and a shit load faster than a lot of other very fast cars, notably:
997 GT3, 996 GT3 RS MKII, Lexus LFA, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, C63 Black series, 360 Challenge Stradale, Ferrari F430

Suffice to say that Soper is probably a better peddler than the Stig.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ower_Lap_Times

[Yanto]

Different configuration ?

[Trawler]

Originally Posted by Yanto

Different configuration ?

Come on are you blind, it's the faster colour.

[Trawler]

Another one for the collection. The numbers are the important data. Who needs pork.


http://www.m3csl.de/misc_csl_supertest.php

[Yanto]

Originally Posted by Trawler

Come on are you blind, it's the faster colour.

You're right mate.....sorry, thought it was a regular E46 on first view

[DuncanR]

Dear Duncan,

Please accept my apologies for such a tardy response to your charming email. Time slips through my fingers!

Thank you very much for backing me with my CSL article. It seems there will be people who disagree with me whatever I write!

I am delighted you enjoyed my words though and huge thanks for getting in touch!

Please can you extend my very best wishes to everyone at www.cslregister.co and let them know that I truly LOVE the CSL - from its perfect steering wheel to its sideways antics.

All the VERY best,

Vicki


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